Click Here to listen to the Dane County 911 Center's press conference

A story in the Madison newspaper Isthmus says Brittany Zimmerman tried to call for help before she was murdered on April 2nd.  According to law enforcement sources quoted in the story, Zimmerman called 911, but dispatchers incorrectly concluded the call was a mistake. 

During a news conference, the director of the Dane County 911 Center, Joe Norwick explained the dispatcher asked several times if there was an emergency.  The dispatcher never received an answer.

"The dispatcher proceeded to answer another 911 call," Norwick said.  "This call was another 911 hang up.  The dispatcher called the number to confirm it wasn't an emergency.  The dispatcher then went on to another call."

Norwick said the dispatcher never called Zimmerman's phone back. 

"It kept waiting in queue," he said. 

The Call Center was not short staffed on the day in question.

According to policy, if dispatchers don't hear a voice or are unable to determine if there's an emergency, the dispatcher calls the number back.  At the request of Madison police, officers are only automatically dispatched if the call is received from a land-line. 

"Land-line calls are precisely located via 911 technology," Norwick said.  "The accuracy of determining the origin of cellphone calls may range from a city block to several miles."

Newsradio 620 WTMJ and it's partner radio station in Madison have placed numerous calls to the Dane County 911 Center, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and many other leaders in the Madison.  So far no calls have been returned.